Last Updated: 14th Mar 2024

Beginner - Intermediate

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I've done it Done

Halswell and Kennedys

Christchurch, Canterbury

Submitted by Kieran Philip

Last Updated: 14th Mar 2024

Beginner - Intermediate

Save Trail Save

I've done it Done

Notice More info

Grunt Factor: 17

Gnarl Factor: 17

13.0km

600m

605m

505m

  

  

  

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Trail Map

Type of Run

Urban fringe

Out and Back

Very hilly

Plantation/exotic forest

Open farmlands

Open ridges/tops

Run Makeup

3%
50%
32%
15%

Sealed Road

Farm Road / 4WD Track

Easy Single Track

Moderate Single Track

Average Uphill Gradient: +9.5%

Average Downhill Gradient: -9.6%

Trailhead

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Estimated Times to Run

2:00

Slow

1:30

Moderate

1:00

Fast

Starting off at the carpark you head up and around the top rim of the Quarry. You then follow the signs up through some farmland and out on to a road. Take a left and follow it through a roundabout and go to the gate at the bottom of the Kennedys Bush track. Head up that track, pretty well signposted, it goes all the way up to Summit Rd. Once you reach Summit Road cross over the stile and follow the obvious trail up the hill. Continue on the steady almost straight line uphill trail for 5 minutes approx from the road up to the rocks on top of Mt Ada for one of the best views on the Port Hills, you truly get the reward for the climb up from the Quarry here.

Re-trace the same route down until you reach the houses again. Instead of going round the quarry this time you want to turn right into the valley and follow the Crocodile trails back down into Halswell Quarry Park at the bottom. There is a signposted shared use/ walking trail rather than the MTB ones to ensure you don't run into bikes. Once you hit the flat follow the trails round back to the carpark where you started to complete the run.

Great views out over Christchurch plains.
Views around Halswell Quarry.

Plenty of parking in the area, some right at trail head.

12 km

14 minutes

Unknown

No

Easy.

Pretty well signposted, though when you get to the road take a left and follow it through the roundabout up to the gate.

Perfect throughout.

Windproof jacket, Beanie/thermal headwear, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map.

Water available at Halswell Quarry Park, just along entry road a little further from trailhead.

Not much shelter up on top, so make sure warm clothes are packed if looking rough.

Fair bit of lumpy volcanic rock in places, so watch footing.

Trail Legend

Taye Pugh

Taye Pugh

has completed Halswell and Kennedys twice in the last year.

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Trail Reviews

Stoked to have come across this run, so close to home for me and with that view it will get me up there again and again. The uphill was a great challenge (love a good challenge) and the downhill was fuuuuuun! I don't mind running in the mountain bike park and a good way to add on some extra k's.

Sophie Jaggs

November 18, 2022

First part around quarry is a cute wee run and a good way to warm the legs up for the grind up from Kennedy's Bush to Summit Road. The climb to Mt Ada was very overgrown but the view at the top was worthwhile. Didnt enjoy the last bit through the MTB park...watch for fast moving bikes and hard to stay on the route. I went off course a number of times :(

David Hosking

February 3, 2022

Enjoyable run. Nothing to see at the top due to fog but I could use my imagination :) Surprisingly comfortable run down given how steep in places it felt going up. Took the wrong tracks coming down unfortunately so ended up wandering around a bit trying to get back inline with the GPS map. Didn't encounter any bikes on the trails today but it wouldn't be very nice for runner or rider to bump into each other on these MTB tracks.

Katie Ridley

July 18, 2021

Enjoyable run. Nothing to see at the top due to fog but I could use my imagination :) Surprisingly comfortable run down given how steep in places it felt going up. Took the wrong tracks coming down unfortunately so ended up wandering around a bit trying to get back inline with the GPS map. Didn't encounter any bikes on the trails today but it wouldn't be very nice for runner or rider to bump into each other on these MTB tracks.

Katie Ridley

July 18, 2021

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